ELNORA’S BIBLE STUDY WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS, 1Thessalonians 4, Saturday, January 31, 2026

 

 

Context for Chapter 4

Chapters 1-3 had a lot to say about the good reputation of the Thessalonian church. Chapter 4 begins to address points Paul wants to clarify. First of these is the need to grow in good works and to avoid immoral living. Paul begins to explain “the rapture”: the moment when Christ will retrieve believers from this earth. Paul’s explanation seems to be intended to dispel rumors. In the final chapter, Paul will further explain the nature of the “day of the Lord,” correcting what might have been said by false teachers. Source: https://www.bibleref.com/1-Thessalonians/4/1-Thessalonians-chapter-4.html

Live to Please God, Verses 1-12,  DESTINY

1Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 2For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor — 5not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 9But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. 10Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more. 11Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 12Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

 

SECTION QUESTIONS: To be Added

 

2. The Hope of the Resurrection, Verses 13-18,  TBA

13And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 15We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18So encourage each other with these words.

 

SECTION QUESTIONS: To be Added

 

Confessions for 1Thessalonians, Chapter 4 

1Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 2For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. (1Thessalonians 4:1-3)

Loving Father, what a wonderful privilege that You should call such a person as me into Your own kingdom, and into Your glory. In the power of the Holy Spirit, I ask You to guide and direct me today, in all that I say, think, and do. In you, I am empowered to live a sanctified life and walk in a worthy manner that brings glory to you. Thank you for Paul’s important teaching on positional and ongoing, practical sanctification, and the need to be holy and pure in thought, word, deed, and motive. I dedicate my life to your service and present my body as a living sacrifice to you, holy and acceptable in your service. Thank you that I am already positionally sanctified, by faith in the sacrificial work of Christ on the Cross, and I pray for my ongoing, practical sanctification. Transform me day by day into the likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

6Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (1Thessalonians 4:6-8)

Heavenly Father, thank You for the wake-up call that there are many ways that I can defraud someone, in thought, word, and deed. I seek to live in purity of heart and walk in spirit and in truth, for Your glory and the benefit of my neighbor. Forgive me for the times when I have not lived according to Your perfect will. Keep me from falling into sin, and may I never forget that there are consequences to all wrongdoing and that You are a God Who is the Avenger in all things. Thank You, Lord, that there is no sin so great that it cannot be forgiven. I thank You for the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. I praise You for being the source of my life and my eternal hope. In You, I can live in purity of heart and in sanctification. Help me as I grow in grace, mature in faith, and live my life in holiness and righteousness all my days, for Your greater praise and glory. This I ask Jesus' name, AMEN.

16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18So encourage each other with these words.  (1Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Heavenly Father, thank You for these comforting words and the beautiful truth that we have an eternal inheritance, kept for us in heaven. Thank You that the day is fast approaching when we will put off this mortal frame and take on an immortal body and become like You. Protect us, spirit, soul, and body in this corrupt and evil world. Use us to be a witness to the lost and a comfort to the saved, and may we draw ever closer to You as we seek to do Your will, to Your praise and glory. May I prepare my heart and soul to be ready for that special day when the trump of God sounds and both the dead and living members of Your Body will receive our new, eternal bodies. I long for that day when we will all be translated into Your presence, but in the meantime, I pray that I may live and work to Your praise and glory. Thank You, Heavenly Father, that You are the Father of all mercies - the God of all comforts Who brings healing to the broken-hearted, consolation to the suffering, hope in the soon return of Jesus, and comfort to the soul. Thank You for the glorious hope that we have in Christ Jesus that He will soon be sent from heaven to rapture His Bride into Your presence and clothe us in a glorious body that is uncorrupted and eternal. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/1-Thessalonians/4

 

End with the South African Missions Prayer